L’Equipe Names Best XI of 2008

Although less a “Best of XI” and more a “Best of Barca, Spain & ManU”. As is the case with so many year-end top whatever lists, they seem to have merely taken the best players off the best teams of 2008. Not that most aren’t deserving, simply that there is surely some wiggle room and grounds for debate. But isn’t that the point behind “best of” lists?

And once again, the French cannot be accused of hometown (or country) favoritism. No Frenchies to be found from the journalistas here.

Journos’ XI

Casillas – Dani Alves, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra – Lionel Messi, Xavi, Steven Gerrard, Cristiano Ronaldo – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Fernando Torres

Fans’ XI

Casillas (17, 963 votes) – Sergio Ramos (17, 828), John Terry (16, 953), Rio Ferdinand (15, 148), Philipp Lahm (19, 526) – Dani Alves (12, 953), Steven Gerrard (28, 418), Kaka (12, 876), Franck Ribery (29, 601) – Lionel Messi (25, 073), Cristiano Ronaldo (26, 728)

The fans’ XI looks an awful lot like, well, a fans’ XI – though Ribery is probably due an explanation from the journalists, particularly if they have no real care for workable tactics. Speaking of workable tactics…not a lot of budding managers in France, eh?

Without an international tournament to speak of in the summer – at least not involving European teams – you have to wonder if the 2009 year-end lists, provided things stay status quo, will look an awful lot like a Barca XI?

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Category: World Football